"Our food system is broken," says Lisa Richter, an Earthworks spokeswoman. "At the same time, people are craving to reconnect with the land, and to reconnect with their community.

"One of the big misconceptions about Earthworks is that we just grow food. We're trying to inspire food system change, to reach the root causes of hunger and poverty."

Volunteers from the neighborhood help out, including Youth Farm Stand students who receive lessons regarding what urban farmers describe as "sustainable agriculture." Eight neighborhood residents receive training stipends for regular work through the Earthworks/Capuchin Soup Kitchen partnership with the Gleaners Community Food Bank, and through the Southeast Michigan Equitable Agriculture Training program.

"It's an inspiration for us to show what is possible with small-scale agriculture, and through increasing accessibility to safe, healthy food," Richter says.

The Earthworks urban farm demonstates that green activists aren't just college students and young urban professionals. They can be found everywhere.

Capuchin Soup Kitchen was ahead of its time in 1998 when Earthworks was established. At the time, Detroit had about 60 community farm gardens. The number has exploded beyond 800, says Mayor Dave Bing. Bing says farm gardens can provide a three-way boost in food security, community spirit and economic development. Green-collar jobs most commonly are associated with alternative energy, bur urban farms also create employment potential.

"Earthworks has always been a labor of love, founded on the Franciscan vision of universal sister and brotherhood of all creation," states the Earthworks website. " We hope that this humble effort of love and desire to reconnect ourselves with the natural world we inhabit will remain part of the beacon of hope for all peoples and for all times."

Staff Authors

Peeps We Love

About Lyn

Lyn Lomasi's Founder & Community Manager of Write W.A.V.E. Media,which
spotlights writers for existing work, as well as encourages expression
while earning. Along with her amazing business & life partner, Richard Rowell, Lyn manages a freelance writer team.

She’s
your content superhero to the rescue! Lyn's been writing web content
for years & rescuing civilians from boring text since the age of
three. SEO, custom content, web design, & other content nightmares
are her dream come true!

Lyn formerly acted as Community Manager
& Advocate at Yahoo! Contributor Network, where she assisted writers
with community, editing, technical, & other issues. Her work’s
featured all over the web. From parenting, energy usage, pets,
homelessness, to reducing waste & more, Lyn’s committed to saving
the Earth as a whole.

For
the self-made momtrepreneur, sustainability is a way of life and a
labor of love. She’s raising her kids and pets in Colorado.Facebook:Lyn LomasiTwitter:@LynLomasi

Today,
Richard focuses on producing high-quality content to help clients
become thought leaders in their respective fields. He is also happy to
coach anyone who wants to become a better writer, and is open to help
anyone critique, edit and proof their work.He loves cats, music, and giraffes.Twitter:@richardarowell&@thewriterrichFacebook:Richard Rowell